Repair work has begun on the tower and spire of the B-listed St Andrew's Parish Church in Ayr.

A Heritage Lottery Fund grant has been received for the repair of stonework, finial and stained glass.

The project architect, Lynne Yuille of ARPL Architects Ltd, climbed to the top of the scaffold to carry out detailed inspection for the £150K repair work.

The congregation of St Andrew's Church, Ayr were very pleased to be awarded a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to cover two thirds of the cost of the work.

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The main contractor for the project is Fleming Masonry Contractors Ltd of Glasgow, who are specialists in conservation work.

Earlier this year steeplejacks carried out emergency stabilisation of the finial and crown stone at the top of the spire, and the project as a whole was started after storm damage to the tower louvres.

ARPL Architects Ltd project director Rebecca Cadie said: "We are very pleased to get this local landmark project on to site, and despite the winter weather, good progress is being made to repair the finial, spire, bell louvres and large west window.

"Grant funding has been hard to win in the last year, and the congregation of St Andrew’s are thrilled that it has been given in recognition of the importance of this building’s contribution to Ayr’s townscape."

Work is due to be completed by late Spring 2010.

(GK/BMcC)